Someone's Watching Me! (1978) (TV)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writer:

John Carpenter (written by)

Release Date:

29 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A woman is being watched in her apartment by a stranger, who also calls and torments her. A cat-and-mouse game begins.

Plot Keywords:

Surveillance Device | Murder | Philosopher | Telescope | Stalker

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lauren Hutton	...	Leigh Michaels
David Birney	...	Paul Winkless
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Sophie
Charles Cyphers	...	Gary Hunt
Grainger Hines	...	Steve
Len Lesser	...	Burly Man
John Mahon	...	Frimsin
James Murtaugh	...	Leone
J. Jay Saunders	...	Police Inspector
Michael Laurence	...	TV Announcer
George Skaff	...	Herbert Stiles
Robert Phalen	...	Wayne
Robert Snively	...	Groves
Jean Le Bouvier	...	Waitress
James McAlpine	...	Slick Man
Edgar Justice	...	Charlie
John J. Fox	...	Eddie (as John Fox)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Carpenter		written by

Produced by
Anna Cottle	....	associate producer
Richard Kobritz	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Harry Sukman

Cinematography by
Robert B. Hauser		(as Robert Hauser)

Film Editing by
Jerry Taylor

Art Direction by
Philip Barber

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lindsley Parsons III	....	second assistant director

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

High Rise

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

It was on the set of this TV movie that director John Carpenter met future wife Adrienne Barbeau.

Movie Connections:

References Rear Window (1954)

Fantastic homage to the likes of Argento and Hitchcock

I couldn't believe my luck when I stumbled on to this movie at a local video store in Iceland. It had subtitles and everything. What a find! As many of you know, this is the "lost" John Carpenter movie, and it's nothing short of fantastic. It plays like an homage to the likes of Dario Argento and Alfred Hitchcock, although the Hitchcock influences are more apparent here.

Lauren Hutton moves into a fancy apartment building and starts receiving mysterious phone calls and presents. And we, as the audience, know that this stalker lives in the building across from hers and that he's watching her every move.

Although not much actually happens here, the film's gradual buildup to a terrifying finale is nothing short of brilliant, orchestrated by a very fresh John Carpenter at the height of his creativity.

The cinematography (especially the POV's) makes one think of Dario Argento but the atmosphere (and storyline) reeks of Hitchcock. John Carpenter has admitted to the fact of having been inspired by both.

I strongly recommend this film. If you can locate it, that is.